The 6-Step Process

Step 1: Narration Product-demos

Narration

Welcome to Step 1. Planning your narrative can take as little as 5 minutes if you simply copy the list of interview questions or script below. Modify as needed. We recommend using a script for most types of small business marketing videos after warming up the speaker with interview questions.

Interview Approach

What to Do: Choose the questions that best suit your small business.

How it Works: The videographer asks the narrator the questions as if in an interview. The spoken questions, as well as "um"s and pauses are edited out later.

Product Demos

Product or product line promotion

Below are Biveo.com's best suggested interview questions.

Interview Questions

What pain or problem does your product address?

Most mops today are not easy to use and are only good for about a dozen uses.

How does your product address that issue?

The Maverick Mop enables you to mop an entire floor without rinsing once. It’s washable head lasts over 100 uses, and it’s lightweight plastic handle makes it easier to work.

How would you demonstrate the effectiveness of your product?

When you compare a standard sponge mop next to the Maverick Mop, it takes twice as long to clean a room with the sponge mop. The Maverick Mop picks up stains more quickly and thoroughly. And you can see that after a dozen uses, the sponge mop is worn out, yet the Maverick Mop still works like new.

What is it that makes your product more effective?

The Maverick Mop’s 300 loops of cotton string create the capacity to hold up to a liter of water - more than seven times that of an average sponge mop.

How would you summarize the benefits of your product?

No one likes to clean. Why not choose a product that takes half the time at the same cost?

Copyright 2018. Permission to repost with crediting link to Biveo.com.

Things the Videographer Says to the Narrator Before the Shoot

Getting your business owner comfortable in front of the camera is one of the most important aspects of your video. Studies show that how you say it is more important than what you say. You want your subject to come across as relaxed, happy, confident, approachable, enthusiastic and eloquent. Move the camera back. Try to make the process fun for them. Shots of the subject smiling and laughing will be among your best shots. Show interest in what they are doing. Stay positive with yout feedback. Have them do an over the top take to help boost their enthusiasm if needed. Reference 10 Techniques for Getting Your Subject Comfortable in Front of the Camera.

Speaking on camera is easy. If you have experience speaking face to face at work, it will a breeze to look good on camera. And for any reason you don’t like the way you look, we can just use the audio.

There is no reason to be nervous. Most of what we are shooting will only be used for the audio as shots of your business will be shown while you speak in the background.

This should only take about 20 minutes, but there's no hurry. We can redo it until we get you looking your best.

Look at the camera person, not the camera lens. Imagine you’re having a conversation. Or if your marketing calls for a script that is geared toward speaking directly to your customer, and warrants looking directly into the camera, look past the lens. Visualize your audience.

Answer interview questions off the top of your head. (If you are reciting a prewritten answer, or using the modified script approach, try to recite the lines to sound as if you are answering the questions off the top of your head.)

Your first take is often your best take because it is the most natural. So if you make a mistake, or "um" or pause, just keep going as these can be edited out.

While answering, if you think of a side point, talk about it even though it wasn't asked. It is good to go off on a tangent.

Include the question in the answer. For example, if asked, "How long have you been in business?", instead of answering "6 years”, answer "Smith Roofing has been in business for 6 years."

After the interview is complete, watch parts of it back, and show the client how they are coming across. This will help them do it again with more confidence and enthusiasm.

Step 1: Narration Product-demos

Modified Script Approach

For tighter control, and more thorough analysis of your business's strengths while still sounding conversational, use this modified script approach.

What to do: Use the following script as a starting point to develop a custom Insert your company's information and philosophy into the following script template. Keep what works, remove what doesn't. There is about 2 minutes of script below, most videos only need to be about 1:15.

How it works: The narrator recites the script one sentence at a time as if speaking to an interviewer, repeating each sentence until it sounds natural.

Script Template

Script by Biveo.com

[Identify the Problem] Are you tired of spending your free time mopping your floors?

[How Your Product Solves the Problem] The Maverick Mop enables you to cut your mop time in half by enabling you to mop an entire floor without rinsing once. It’s washable head lasts over 100 uses, and it’s lightweight plastic handle makes it easier to work.

[Demonstrate How It Works] When you compare a standard sponge mop next to the Maverick Mop, it takes twice as long to clean a room with the sponge mop. The Maverick Mop picks up stains more quickly and thoroughly. And you can see that after a dozen uses, the sponge mop is worn out, yet the Maverick Mop still works like new.

[Features that Make It Work] The Maverick Mop’s 300 loops of cotton string create the capacity to hold up to a liter of water - more than seven times that of an average sponge mop.

[Summarize and Invite] No one likes to clean. Why not choose a product that takes half the time at the same cost? Order your Maverick Mop today!

Top 6 Script Content Tips

Focus on the honest facts. Instead of saying "We are the best", try to give specifics such as, "We were recognized for providing great customer service by...", or "We performed serviced over 400 customers in 2015", or "Our staff is trained and certified by...".

Good customer service is the most important thing to most customers. Demonstrate your level of customer service in your video. (Responsive, Accommodating, Knowledgeable, Flexible)

Focus on the facts that show how you are different from other services. What is your niche?

Demonstrate Candor. Do not try to portray your company any differently than how it truly is, and don't hide what your company truly offers. Use negatives to your advantage. For example, older equipment has the advantage of showing lower overhead and lower cost to the customer. What you think may be a negative can actually be a positive. Just be honest.

Understand your niche and target your market accordingly. A portion of customers shop for the lowest price, a portion shop for the highest quality service. Charge fairly for the level of service you offer. Do not try to charge large corporation rates if you are a small local business. Do not drop your price to bargain hunters. Accept that you cannot win every customer that contacts you.

If you are set on presenting your business by telling a story, be careful not to be self-congratulatory. Instead, focus on how your story benefits the customer.